dunno what manner of tasteless heathen has a bad word to say about united's blue kit there, sensational stuff

I actually bought that top about a month before that match, seeing it reduced to half price in a sports shop and not realising that was because they were going to stop wearing it at the end of the season (obviously this was a few years before they became famous for ditching shirts).

Terry must have done himself a world of good for his forthcoming appearance in court with his half-time statement about what happened with Alexis Sanchez the other night.

CPS barrister: "Mr Terry, is there any reason for the court to believe you might lie about your own misdemeanours on the pitch in order to protect your reputation? Can you recall any instances in which you have failed to supply the truth about about offences you have committed when subsequently asked."

I saw a reference somewhere to the Cup Final kicking off at 5.15pm and assumed it was an amusing comment on the inevitability of it being a sterile affair settled on penalties. But no, it's true. What's the idea behind that?

The Football Association can confirm that this season’s FA Cup with Budweiser Final between Chelsea and Liverpool will kick-off at 5.15pm on Saturday 5 May.

It will be the first FA Cup Final under floodlights at Wembley Stadium in almost 20 years – the last being Arsenal’s replay win over Sheffield Wednesday in 1993 when a last-minute header from Andy Linighan in extra-time sealed a 2-1 victory for the Gunners.

Engineering work, planned up to 18 months in advance, by Network Rail over the bank holiday weekend means Virgin Trains have cancelled all but three of their Liverpool to London services on the day of the final.

And while fans are being advised to travel to the capital via Manchester, Chester or Stoke, there appears to be no means of making the return journey as there are no trains returning to the north-west after the game.

Further engineering work near Milton Keynes means return journey times of over five hours for those hoping to travel back the day after.